LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 247, 15 January 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In response to enquiries as to the number of bankruptcies that have occurred in Gisborne during the past three years, we give the respective numbers t—lBB6, 18 ; 1887, 26 ; 1888, 14. By this ft will be seen that last year there was a decrease of nearly half the number of the previous year, though the comparison between 1886 and 1888 was only slightly in favor of the latter,

The Committee carrying out the arrangements for the annual Wesleyan Picnic have taken a commendable course in postponing it until Wednesday, so as not to interfere with any other church. The Kaiti beach is the spot selected, this having with other Advantages that of being at an easy distance from town, affording one of the most ecanomieal and pleasant means of spending the holiday. Traps will convey pueengen to the ground Up to 11 in the morning. Tickets aan be bought nS any of the Committee at »hd fail! prite tor shlldrea.

The Evening Star Minstrels appear at Ormond to-night, in Bruce’s Hall, and after the concert a dance is to be held. The Minstrels are to be complimented on the worthy objects for which their initial entertainments are held, and they are entitled to a large amount of support, even apart from the consideration of the good value they are enabled to give for the amount charged for admission. We quite expect that in Ormond the success of the Minstrels will surpass that which was accorded them in Gisborne.

From information received, we would warn business people and others to" carefully scrutinise the coin and notes Jwhioh are tendered them during this week. It is not necessary to explain why this week should be any exception, for one has only got to walk down the street with his eyes open to ascertain the reason. Beware, that is all we have got to say.

“ Hippo ” writes in the Napier Telegraph The owner of Kariri, as soon as he saw the weights for the Gisborne races, was so annoyed at the way his mare was treated, that he vented his spleen by sending a long collect wire to the secretary of the Poverty Bay Turf Club, which was the reverse of complimentary to the handicapper. The said secretary, not to be outdone, sent back what must have been a very long collect wire to Kariri's owner, but the mate’s owner was not to be had so easily, and he refused to receive and pay for the wire, which was returned to be collected from the sender. lam afraid the club’s funds after their meeting will hardly bear such expenses. Some wag has been taking a rise out of one of our young rowing men, the joke being that he has been posted on the notice board at the boat shed as having been selected as one ot the Gisborne Club's “ reps.” A little success, achieved perhaps more by luck than skill, occasioned an inflation which led to the" canard, but this coming Searle, although " belonging to a rowing family,” has a lot to learn, notwithstanding a couple of brilliant victories. Although perhaps at present the joke may be unpalatable, still it should have a future excellent effect showing as it does that bumptiousness is often laughed at. The correct list is published this morning. The following certificates were granted by Mr Booth, Trust Commissioner, yesterday:— Deed of conveyance from Wiremu Kingi and Hori Akaui to W. F. Hale, half share in Ihunui; Deeds of transfer from Mihi Hetekia to S. B. Cooper, of Kaiti eection 279 ; from Eruera te Kura to 8. B. Cooper, of Kaiti section 284 and 264; from Ruihi Mautatua to same, of Kaiti section 803 ; from Mere Karaka to same, ot Kaiti section 803 ; from Paora Parau to H. E, Johnston, of Kaiti section 292 ; from Kateraina Kahutia to C. D. Bennett, of Kaiti section 834 ; from Hirini Tuta to Honiana Tautau and four others, of Kaiti section 279 ; from Hami Kauta to Frederick Martin, of Kaiti eeotion 210; from Wi Kingi Hori to Elizabeth Finlay, of Kaiti section 233; from Turanganui Bawiri to Maude Wyllie, of Kaiti section 214. A satisfactory thing to note in connection with our rising population is that the boys with rare exceptions, and a large number of girls, take advantage of the facilities for bathing which everyone can enjoy in Gisborne, and of course there are not many juveniles who cannot swim in a more or less proficient degree. It is a really enjoyable sight to observe the large number of mates and females that avail themselves of the Carnar von street and Recreation ground sheds. An incident which occurred a tew days ago at ths former shed fa deserving of publicity, for it was an example of courage that is worthy of high commendation. Mr Mudgcway's little son attempted to swim across the river, but became exhausted before he had reached the shore. Basing the lad's trouble a son of Mr Ezra Smith, having his clothes ofif at the time, jumped in from the shed and swam to the rescue. By the time he reached the other ted the latter had sunk once, and then directly succour was at hand he did the foolish thing that is usually done in such oases, caught hold of his rescuer, round the neck, and clung so tightly that both went down, Smith struggled to get free and called on the other boy to let go his hold, but ho hold on with the tenacity of an octopus. In ths struggling they had naturally made in the direction of the nearest bank, on the opposite side, and just as Smith felt they were sinking for the last time, his foot touched bottom, and standing up he found that he could keep his chin above water. With another eflort he managed to get in closer, and even then it was only with some diffi. oulty he could get the other boy to release his hold and ascertain for himself that they were in shallow water. A brave action of this kind, and by one so young, far surpasses many of those for which a medal has been awarded. The Napier Telegraph’s Hastings correspondent wrote on Saturday Yesterday Omahu presented its usual rural appearance, and so far there was nothing to suggest a disturbance of any kind brewing; in fact, the little village was more like Goldsmith’s representation of “Sweet Auburn ” than the place where a bloody fracas was supposed to happen. Rumor hath many tongues. In the Omahu case there has been no exception. The coach that left Omahu for Napier yesterday morning had a number of Maoris for passengers, and several natives were employed in carting firewood from Hastings to Omahu. The remainder of the men and women were engaged in the rural occupation of harvesting. These were unmistakable signs of peace ; so, when the three constables put in an ap pearance armed to the teeth there was nothing for them to do. At the Fern Hill hostelry Host Ramsay had a bewildered look on his placid countenance when he saw the limbs of the law riding over the bridge. Ae he told me afterwards, he thought they were hunting for a “private still.” There was a strapping Maori girl sitting astride her horse

at the hotel waiting for her two gallon j »r to be filled for the harvesters at the pah. When she caught sight of the mounted troopers, she collared her demijohn and made across the bridge like greased lightning. She evidently thought the police were on % foraging expedition, and as they looked thirsty, might have damaged her beer. Buchanan, in the course of his statement, says : Eight years ago I had an overdraft of £7OOO, or thereabouts, and this gradually has grown to a present liability of £30,000. The exigencies of trade necessitated my taking over a great number of properties, many of which were encumbered, and during the lasc six years have paid upwards of £13,000 in interest. During the same period the bad trade debts amounted to £30,465155. Early in December last it became necessary to cal, the creditors together and a full statement of 1 the affairs was placed before them. I thought it necessary to call in the services of an exsert to value the various properties, which ritherto stood in the books at my own valuations. This resulted in a difference against my assets of £17,700. The expert’s valuations were considerably under those of the Property Tax Department, and in some cases under the mortgage amounts. My balance sheet of July last showed a surplus of £11,130. The December balance-showed a deficiency of £28,538 Ils Id. The principal item of deficiency is £17,700 on properties. The othen are bad debts.

Messrs Kennedy and Evans have 300 tons of the beet household coal now tending'ex Sarah Pile and Kenilworth. The coal will be sold oheap from the”ship’s side. Mr George Humphreys has just received a large shipment of carriage material, and will be able to execute any orders entrusted to himt The efficiency of the blacksmith’s dapartmen. is such that it hardly requires mentioning, being already so widely known. The services of Mias McGill (lata of Wellington and Dunedin) have been secured for the dress making department of the D. 1.0., and customers may depend upon being satisfied with both style and pric<.